Chain-welding machine



J. SENFT.

CHAIN WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1.!SENVFT. cHAm wELnlNG MACHINE. APPLICTlON FILED OCT. 30. 1919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

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J. SENFT.

CHAIN WELDING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN HLED 00T. 30, 1919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

yvJ/w/WM/ J. SENFT.

4cIIAIN WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 9l9.

A 1,360,034. mma Nov. 23, N920.

J. SENFT.

CHAIN WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 3o. 1919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5I -f rwnm- 53 www 7015 vqyrngl UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN SENFT, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB. TO UNITED STATES CHAIN A NDFORGINC COMPANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELA-WARE.

CHAIN-WELmNG MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

Application led October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,398.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SENFT, a citizen ,of the United States,residing in York,

Pennsylvania, have invented Chain-Welding Machines, of which `thefollowing is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple,substantial and compact machine for electrically welding previouslyformed chain links, the construction being such that the machine isespecially adapted for, without being limited in its use to, welding theadjacent end portions of elongated link blanks. i

I further desire to provide a machine of the type noted in which thetransformer for supplying the vcurrent employed in welding shall be somounted and connected with the work engaging electrodes as to reduce toa minimum the number of joints, and likewise reduce the electricalresistance, of the welding circuit ;-the invention contemplating also anovel form of water cooled electrode holder designed to eliicientlyreduce the temperature of those V,portions of the machine which tend tobecome objectionably heated during operation.

' I also desire to provide a novel combination oi'v link supportingguide, particularly designed to avoid complication and -of such a natureas to make possible the operation of the machine for long periods oftime without necessity for repairs.

It is further desired to provide a welding machine with a novelarrangement and construction of 'the parts constituting the secondary orwelding circuit, with a View to shortening and simplifying the same.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter-setforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figures land 2 are respectively a front and a side elevation of the mainportions of an electric Welder constructed in accordance with myinvention;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with thetransformer removed omitted; and

Fig.. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6, illustrating the detailconstruction of the water jacket for the electrode holders.

In the above drawings 1 represents a base structure supported in ahorizontal position upon suitable legs 2 and adjacent its rear edge..supporting bearings 3 and 4 for a main shaft 5. The latter has fixed toit one member of a clutch 6 whose second member 1s fixed to a gear 7loosely rotatable on said shaft and meshing with a second gear 8 upon asecond shaft 9 continuously driven through a pulley' 10 rfrom anysuitable source of power. The clutch, which is preferably of .theautomatic releasing type well known in this art, is controlled by suitable means such as the pedal 11 which exitends to the forward part ofthe machine so as to be within convenient reach of the operator.

Mounted at the center of the front of the machine is a relatively heavyblock or plate 12 providing downwardly taperingl bearings forcorrespondingly tapered-journals 13 forming part of two lever heads '14,which are curved away from each otherh and are then extended ytoward therear of the machine so as to lie approximately parallel. The rear endsof these heads have connected to them lever arms 115 which extend topoints under and immediately adjacent the shaft 5 which has fixed to itcams 16 j designed to operate on rollers 17 carried by said lever armsso as to swing' them apart. The latter are at all times drawn togetherby a relatively heavy spring 18 connected to and extending between themand the pin orspindle forming the pivot for each of the rollers projectsthrough a slot 19 in the base or table top 1 to the under side thereofwhere it has loosely mounted on it one end of a link 20. Pivoted to theunder side of the base 1 adjacent the slots 19 are two toothed segments21 whose teeth engage each other as shown in Fig. 5 and which arerespectively fixed to suitable spindles or pins to each of which isfixed one end of an arm 22 whose opposite end is pivotally connected toone of the links 20.

With this arrangement of parts, any movement of one of the levers 15 istransmitted to the. other, and they are'thus'caused to swing on theirjournals 13 to equal amounts in opposite directions. Each of the leverheads 14 has mounted upon its rear portion an electrode holder 23preferably made hollow and is provided with a recess for the receptionof a post or pivot projecting downwardly from the under side of saidhead into a suitable recess in the lever head, as indicated at 24 inFig. 2. Each of the electrode holders is insulated from its supportinglever head 14 by any suitable means such as the mica or liber plate25although it is adjustable in a horizontal plane on its pivot 24. Forthis purpose each of the holders is formed with a forwardly projectinglug 26 having a slot 27 concentric with its pivot 24 for the receptionof a bolt 28 whereby Asaid holder may be clamped to the lever head 14 inany adjusted position.

The electrode holders have in their front faces transversely extendingundercut recesses for the reception of two electrodes 27 which extend inline with each other' and are clamped to their respective holders byplates 28 held to the tops thereof by clamping bolts 29. The adjacentends of the electrodes are recessed to'properly receive the open orseparated ends of a link blank it' to be welded and said electrodes maybe adjusted toward or from e'ach other after the bolts 29 have beenslacked off to relieve the pressure on the plates 28. Each of theseholders is hollow and has suitable connections 30 and 31 leadingrespectively from a source of cooling water and to a waste pipe wherebythe water may be circulated through them so as to prevent their undueheating under operating conditions.

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6, each of the electrode holders has a flatrearwardly projecting, vertically extended lug 33 designed forconnection to the lower end of a laminated and more or less flexibleelectrical conductor 34 whose upper end is bolted to the secondary 35 ofan alternating current transformer 36'. The latter is supported abovethe electrode holders upon a frame 37 carried by the base or table 1 andthe arrangement is such that the verticall extending conductors 34 arecapable o moving toward and from each other to permit of the movement ofthe lever arms 15 under the action of the cams 16 and spring 18 as thevengaged by an adjusting screw 44 threaded carriage.

The rear end of the holder 41 is shaped to support the closed end of thelink and to insure its being retained in intimate engagement with thetwo electrodes 27 during the heating' operation the carriage 40 isslidably guided in the block 12 as shown so as to be movable toward andfrom the rear of the machine, for which purpose I provide a lever 45extending through and fulcrumed in said block with its lower endconnected through a link 46 with the lower end of a lever 47. The latterextends upwardly from said link and is fulcrumed to the rear portion ofthe base 1, having at its upper end a roller 48 designed to coact withthe eripheiy of a cam 49 fixed to the shaft 5 etween the cams 16.

A s ring 50 acts between two brackets 51 an 52 respectively mounted onthe link 46 and on the under side of the base 1, so as to normallyretain the carriage 40 with the holder 41 in a forward position mostdistant from the electrodes 27 and the cam 49 is of such an` outline asto move said carriage with said holder toward the electrodes andtemporarily hold it in this position once during each revolution of theshaft 5.

Also mounted on the base 1 to the rear of the electrode holders 23 is acentrally placed standard 53 providing a guideway for two verticallymovable heads 54 and 55. These carry lower and upper dies 56 and 57projecting toward each other and having their adjacent` faces recessedin th well known manner so that they are capable of coacting to shapethe welded ends of a link. For actuating these dies the opposite facesof the rotary element carrying the cam 49 are grooved to provide cams 58and 59 designed to respectively receive rollers on the rear ends of thelevers 60 and 61. The latter project forwardly to and through openingsin the standard 53 to which they are fulcrumed at 62 and 63 and theirforward ends are respectively pivoted to the die-carrying heads 54 and55.

When the machine is at rest the dies 56 and 57 are separated, thecarriage 40 is at the forward end of itspath of movement and the levers15 with electrode holders 23 are in such positions that the electrodes27 are separated. YA link to be welded is preferably threaded through apreviously welded link and is thenplaced by handwith its open endbetween the electrodes and its opposite closed end resting upon or inposition to be engagedby the holder 41 .of the carriage 40. By adepression of the pedal 11, the operator causes closing of the clutch 6so that power is transmitted from the shaft 9 through the gears 8 and 7and through the clutch 6 to the to hold the link stationary.

main shaft 5 .which is caused to make one complete revolution and thencome to rest. The cams 16 thereafter so act upon the lever arms 15 thatthe electrode holders are allowed to turn on their journals 13 as pivotsunder the action of the spring 18, thereby causing the electrodes togrip the open end of the link and force its separated extremities towardand into engagementwith each other. At the same time the carriage 40moves to the rear sutliciently to cause its holder 41 to engage andstrongly press the link toward and into intimate engagement with theelectrodes.

By any suitable means such as a cam on the shaft V5, the circuit of theprimary winding of the transformer 36 is closed, with the result thatcurrent of relatively large volume is induced in the secondary winding35 and lows therefrom through the conductors .34 to the holders 23thence to the electrodes 27 and through the contacting ends of the link.This current is of sutlicientamount to heat and shortly raise to awelding temperature the engaged extremities of the link and the cams 58and 59 are of such design that they actuate the levers 6() and 61 tomove the dies 5G and 57 toward each other at the time said 'temperaturehas been attained. These dies operate between the ends of the electrodes27 and givethe proper shape to the highly heated metal, after the switchhas cut olf the current from the electrodes and while these are stillcooperating with the carriage 40 Thereafter the dies 56 and 57 areseparated by their controlling cams, the electrodes are moved apartagainst the action of the spring 18 by the cams 16, and the peripheralcam 49 also causes movement of the carriage 40 away y from theelectrodes under the action of the spring 50. T hefinished link is thenremoved or allowed to drop `and another link to be welded is presentedyto the machine either after being threaded through the previouslyformed link dr independently thereof.

From the above description it will be noted that when the cams 16 allowthe spring 18 to force the electrodes 27 toward each other, therelatively flexible conductors 34 are bent sufficiently to permit thedescribed operation without injury to the machine and their arrangementis such as to avoid the necessity 't'or any conduction of currentbetween slidably engaging surfaces, since said conductors are rigidlybolted or otherwise immovably connected to thev secondary winding 35 as-well as to the two electrode holders 23.

Under conditions of use water is circulated through these holders so asto prevent an objectionable rise in the temperature of the electrodes,which from time to time may be adjusted toward each other, after theclamping bolts 29 have been slacked ofl", in order to compensate for thewear which occurs.

Alto ether the machine is compact and substantial, as Well as of adurable construction and relatively inexpensive owing to the fact thatthe arrangement of the transformer conductors and electrode holders issuch as to require but relatively little copper or other metal of highconductivity in *the short secondary circuit.

4I claim:

l. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two levers mounted thereon; means for swin ing said leverstoward and from each ot er; electrodes carried respectively by thelevers; means -for supplying current to said electrodes; verticallymovable dies; means yfor causing said dies to act on a link after thishas been welded between the electrodes; and means for forcing the linktoward the electrodes into position to be acted on by the dies.

' 2. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two le-l` vers fulcrumedthereon so. as to be movable machineof a supporting structure; leversy mounted thereon to swing in asubstantially horizontal plane; electrodes rigidly mounted on saidlevers and movable toward and fromeach other; means for actuating saidVlevers; a carriage movable in a line at right angles to the line ofaction of the electrodes for forcing the link toward the same; and twovertically movable dies operative to shape a link while it is held bysaid electrodes and carriage.

4. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two levers pivotally supported thereon; means forswinging theleversl toward and from each other; electrode holders pivotally mountedon said levers; means for retaining said holders in any adjustedposition on their pivots; electrodes carried by the holders; and asource of current electrically connected to the holders.

5. The; combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two lever heads pivotally mounted thereon; lever arms rigidlyconnected to said heads respectively and extendin in substantiallyparallel relation rearwar ly therefrom.; means for ed on the heads;electrodes c'arried'by the holders; dies for shaping a link while it lis held by the electrodes; and means for the dies. v

6. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two levers pivotally mounted thereon; water cooled electrodeholders mounted on the levers and adjustable on axes substantiallyparallel to the pivot lines of the levers; electrodes carried by saidholders; means for actuating the levers; and a source of current directlconnected to the holders.

7. T e combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two lever heads pivotally mounted thereon; means for swingingsaid headsv on their pivots toward and from each other; electrodeholders pivotally mounted on the heads and each having a slottedportion; clamping bolts passing through the'slotted portions of saidholders for holding them to the heads in any given positions; electrodescarried by the holders; a transformer; and conductors directlyconnecting the secondary of said transformer with said holdersrespectively.

8. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supporting table;a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said table; means for swingingsaid levers on their pivots toward and from each other; electrodeholders respectively mounted on the levers; electrodes carried on thefront portions of the holders; a carriage mounted on the table in frontof and operative in a line between said electrodes; a pair of coactingdies operative vertically between the electrodes; a holder on thecarriageI for moving a link between the electrodes into position to haveits weld shaped by the dies; and nreans for actuating the carriage.

9. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two levers pivotally mounted thereon; means for swinging saidlevers on their pivots toward and from each other; two electrode holderspivotally mounted on the levers and electrically insulated therefrom;electrodes carried by the holders; a transformer mounted above theholders and having its secondary connected to the same; and means forshaping the welded portion of a link after it has been heated betweentheelectrodes.

10. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two 1evers pivotally mounted thereon; means for swinging thelevers toward and from each other; electrode holders respectivelymounted on the levers; electrodes carried by the holders; a transformermounted above the levers; laterally flexible conductors electricallyconnecting thesecondary of the transformer with the electrode holdersrespectively; a carriage mounted between the 1evers; a link holdermounted on the carriage in position to coperate with the electrodes insupporting the link to be welded; and means for automatically movingsaid carriage to forcibly press thealink toward the electrodes. Y

11. The combination in an electric welding machine of a supportingstructure; two levers pivotally mounted thereon; means for swinging thelevers toward and from each .other; electrode holders respectivelymounted on the levers; electrodes carried by the holders; a transformermounted above the levers; laterally flexible conductors electricallyconnectin the secondary of the transformer with t e electrode holdersrespectively: a carriage mounted between the levers; a link holdermounted on the carriage 1n posltion to coperate with the electrodes insupporting the link to be welded; means for automatically moving saidcarriage toward and from the electrodes; with ver tlcally movable diespositioned to act between the electrodes upon the welded portion of thelink.

In witness whereof I aiix m signature. J OH SENFT.

